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California Greenin'

There’s a basic safety checklist that often accompanies the arrival of a new baby: Cover outlets, install gates near stairways, and attach child-proof locks on lower cabinets.

But when Laura Forbes Carlin and her husband, Scott, were awaiting their firstborn in 2003, it was the chemical odor of their new baby gear—the furniture, toys, and bedding—stored in their soon-to-be nursery closet that prompted them to take the concept of “clean and safe” to a new level.

“Expectant parents tend to buy all new things with the idea that new equates to safe,” says Laura. “But it makes no sense to create a beautiful nursery without considering whether products and materials are potentially harmful.”

Those concerns motivated Laura and her sister, Alison Forbes Houlihan, to learn all they could about everyday ways to make homes safer—digging into research and picking the brains of experts. Armed with that know-how, the pair founded The Art of Everyday Living, a consulting company focusing on health and well-being—an approach they call conscious living. They also co-authored The Peaceful Nursery (Delta Books, 2006), a parents’ guide to preparing a healthy haven for their babies. Today, educating parents makes up a large part of their business.

The sisters’ research went into high gear when Laura and Scott were expecting a second baby in 2006, requiring a move from Westwood, California, to a larger home in nearby Santa Monica. The renovation of the ’50s ranch required months of research, with the sisters discovering a variety of building and decorative products that are healthy for children. “Babies’ immature organs and developing immune systems are less able to cope with the toxins in their environment,” Alison points out.

The first child, who helped kick off The Art of Everyday Living: James, now 5, at his solid wood art table finished with linseed oil. Baskets (with unsprayed finishes) help corral art supplies and toys.

Throughout the house, sustainably harvested white-oak hardwood floors were installed and sealed with a low-VOC, nontoxic sealer. Traditional dining room chairs are made of reclaimed wood and water-based glue.

In the kitchen, often the linchpin of renovation schemes, Laura and Alison worked as much as possible with existing materials. Cabinets, for instance, were salvaged instead of being replaced; they were given a coat of a low-VOC paint, glass fronts, and new hardware. New appliances were installed to make the kitchen energy-efficient.

“We tend to focus on big events when considering our lives,” Alison says, “but it’s those everyday moments that affect us most.” Hence the name of the company—The Art of Everyday Living—that she co-owns with her sister Laura. A few of their tips include: